NAF Launches Probe Into Alleged Civilian Casualties in Jilli Airstrike
The Nigerian Air Force has launched an urgent investigation into reports of civilian casualties following a recent airstrike in the Jilli area along the Borno–Yobe border.
In a statement, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the operation, carried out on April 11, targeted suspected insurgent positions but may have inadvertently affected a local market, prompting concern over possible civilian harm.
The Chief of the Air Staff has ordered the immediate deployment of the Civilian Harm Accident and Investigation Cell (CHAI-Cell) to conduct a fact-finding mission at the scene and determine the extent of any casualties.
Local sources and eyewitnesses reported that the strike hit a busy weekly market where traders had gathered, with several casualties and injured persons taken to nearby hospitals, including facilities in Geidam.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned the incident, with some reports suggesting dozens to over 100 civilians may have been killed, although official figures have not been confirmed.
The airstrike was part of ongoing military operations targeting Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters in the region, where insurgents are known to move among civilian populations.
The investigation comes amid growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s air operations, following previous incidents in which civilians were mistakenly killed during counter-insurgency strikes, often linked to intelligence and coordination gaps.
Authorities say findings from the probe will guide further action, as calls grow for greater accountability and improved safeguards to protect civilians in conflict zones.
